canfield



(No Model.)

H. O. O'ANFIELD.

BUSTLE.

No. 365,045. Patented June 21, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICEQ HENRY O. CANFIELD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CANFIELD RUBBER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,045, dated June 21, 1887.

Application filed April 13, 1887. Serial No. 234,676.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. CANFIELD, of Bridgeport, in the county ofFairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bustles and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in bustlcs, the object being to afford a device of that character that can be made to fold flat against the person of the wearer when a sitting or reclining posture is assumed, and that will 1 regain an extended form when pressure is relaxed and an upright position is assumed, whereby the drapery 0f the shirts is held from the body in a style to suitthe demands of fashion.

Afurther object is to produce a compressible bustle that will be coi'nt'ortable to the wearer in any position of the body, light in weight, of neat appearance, durable constructiomand low initial cost.

.Vith these ends in View my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, that will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The drawing represents my improved bustle.

A A represent the body-strips, to the upper ends of which the band A is attached, preferably by eyelets, this band serving to attach the bustle in proper position upon theperson ofthe wearer.

The flat metallic braces B B are affixed by their ends to the body-strips at proper points. These serve to retain the body-strips in position, with a sufficient space intervening, this distance being indicated by the size of the 4c bustle.

The braces B B are crossed at or near their centers of length, and a rivet or eyelet is inserted at the point where they cross to render them stable. They should be of such a thick 5 ness and width proportionate to the size of the bustle as to afford the requisite support edgewise and have a yielding elasticity to conform to the curvature of the body when secured in place, and thus afford a comfortable appliance,

5o avoidingthe unyielding rigidity and conse- (No model.)

quent discomfort that is to be found in the ordinary type of bustle.

Upon the outer faces of the bodystrips A A, at spaced intervals, the flat metallic bowsprings C C, are secured, preferably by eyelet-connections, that affordjoints upon which the bows C may vibrate freely if not restrained.

At or near the centers of the bow-springs C the spacing-tape or flexible band I) is riveted or attached by eyelets a, these points of attach- 6o ment being such that the bows C are held spaced, so as to be supported parallel to each other when the bustle is in normal position uncompressed.

The diagonal bows E E are secured by their 6;. ends to the two bow-springs G C that are nearest the upper ends of the body-springs, and are pivoted. by their ends to the flat surfaces of these springs near to the body-strips to vibrate, their position forming a rounded finish to the top of the bustle.

Upon the front faces of the body-strips A A the flat platesprings G G are attached by their upper ends rigidly, these points of attachment being near the pivoted junction of the upper bow-spring with the body-strips A A.

The lower ends of the plate springs G G are secured by eyelets or other proper means to the lower spring-bow, C, at proper points to insure efficient action of springs G G, the

length of these springs being such in relation to the extended position of the lower bowspring to which it is attached that the 'plate springs will be bentsli htly to cause their tensional strength to be exerted upon this springbow and depress it, the depression thus effected causing the extension in proper form of the several bow-springs that form the skeleton frame on which the skirts of the underwear and dress are held in draped position upon the person of the wearer.

XVhcn the b0w-sp rings are folded upon their hinged joints to lie near the body of the person wearing the bustle, as is the case when a sitting or reclining position is assumed, the plate-springs G G will be bent into U shape, ready to resume an extended bow form when the pressure that bent them is relaxed, and in consequence the shape of the supported drapery is restored to its required prominence 10o when an upright posture of the wearer is assumed.

Having fully describedmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 5 Patent, is 1. In a bustle, the combination, with two elastic body-strips and two crossed'flat springbraces attached to the body-strips, of hinged bow-springs, a flexible spacingband, and two [0 plate-springs secured to the body-strips and lower bow-spring, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bustle, the combination, with two body-strips, an attached supporting-band, and

two crossed flat elastic braces, of a set of bow- 15 springs pivoted to vibrate on their points of attachment to the body-strips, a flexible band attached to the bow-springs and supportingband, two diagonal bows pivoted upon the upper bow-springs, and two plate-springs attached to the lower bow-spring and the body- HENRY o. OANFIELD.

Witnesses:

G. E.'MELINS, S. B. Lnwis. 

